End-gate



E. B. MODE.

(No ModeL') END GATE.-

Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

UNTTED I STATES PATENT 0FFICE.

EDIVARD I3. MODE, OF \VILMINGTON, DELAIVARE.

EN D-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,785, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed November 2, 1888. $erial No. 289,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. MODE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in End-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in endgates; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a wagon-body and end-gate provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line .90 5c of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the boX or casing secured to the wagon-body, and Fig. 4: is a detail view of the casting secured to the end-gate.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the wagon-body, and B the end-gate secured thereto at the lower rear edge of the same by the hinges C.

D designates an L-shaped casting, perma nently secured to the end-gate at the upper corner of the same and fitting against the edge and side thereof. The casting is provided on one side with the integral lug or proj ection E, the upper side of which is beveled downwardly and inwardly toward the wagonbody, as clearly shown.

F designates a box or hollow casing U- shaped in cross-section, and provided at its end and on its sides with the integral perfo rated lugs G, through which securing-screws are passed to secure it to the side of the wagonbody. H designates a latch pivoted at one end to the inner or forward end of this casing and projecting through the rear end of the same, as shown. The rear end of this latch is beveled upwardly and rearwardly, as shown at I, the said beveled portion riding over the beveled upper side of the lug E in the operation of the device. In rearof this beveled portion the latch is provided on its under side with a vertical transverse portion, J,which is adapted to engage the rear end of the projection E, and thereby lock the parts together. Adjacent to the rear end of the casing the latch is provided on its sides with the vertical shoulders K L, the shoulder K enabling the latch to clear the edge of the casting D,while the shoul der L enables it to fit around the end of the act of closing causes the upper beveled surface of the projection E to engage the under beveled side of the rear end of the latch, thereby raising the same against the tension of the spring, and riding thereunder until the rear end of the said projection clears the transverse shoulder of the latch, when the springwill at once force the said shoulder downward in rear of the end of the projection, so as to engage the same and lock the end-gate in its closed position. \Vhen it is desired to open the end-gate, the rear end of the latch is lifted slightly, so as to disengage it from the projection,when the weight of the end-gate will at once cause it to swing downward 011 its hinges, thereby affording access to the articles in the wagon-body.

It will be observed that the device is very simple in its construction and arrangement, and will positively lock the end-gate in its raised or closed position, while at the same time it does not prevent the easy and rapid lowering of the gate.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the wagon-body and the end-gate, of the L-shaped casting secured to the upper corner of the end-gate and having an integral projection 011 one side provided with an upwardly and rearwardly beveled upper surface, the casing secured to the wagon-body, the latch pivoted within the easing and projecting from the rear end of the same, the rear end of the said latch having an upwardly and rearwardly beveled lower surface, and a transverse vertical shoulder in advance of said beveled surface adapted to engage the rear end of the projection on the L- shaped casting, and a spring secured at its front end and having its rear end bearing on' the upper side of the latch, as specified.

2. The combination, with the Wagon-body and the end-gate, of the L-shaped casting D,

secured to the end-gate at the upper corner and having the projection E, provided with. an upwardly and rearwardly beveled upper surface, the U-shaped casing secured to the side of the Wagomhody, the latch pivoted Within the casing and projecting from the rear end of the same andhaving the shoulders K L in its opposite sides, and provided at its rear end with an. upwardly and rearwardly :ro beveled under surface and a vertical transverse shoulder just in advance of said bev- 

